Thread: .222 turning back the clock

Originally Posted by Mooseman

I remember back when we were culling the Rangitoto Range inland from Otrohonga, at the time there was a fencer working on the farm we had our base camp at. Any deer we shot that we didn't use were traded for Veges. I can still hear him saying What canon did you use to shoot these deer, when we showed him the 222 round he didn't believe us as he said most of the deer he processed he lost the front shoulders from blood shoot meat. I don't really know why they kill so well as when you look at the energy figures and compare them with other deer calibers most people wouldnt consider even trying to use one. Back then the little trebly was carried 7 days a week and you got to know how to shoot it and it just plan worked.

@Mooseman if you don’t mind me asking, which station up Rangitoto were you based at? I hunt up there occasionally and it’s a magic spot with an interesting history. There were some hard yards put in when that land was broken in from bush!

Originally Posted by 7.62

@Mooseman if you don’t mind me asking, which station up Rangitoto were you based at? I hunt up there occasionally and it’s a magic spot with an interesting history. There were some hard yards put in when that land was broken in from bush!

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

Originally Posted by Mooseman

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

Owenga..(sp) ..?? Was overlooking that country on Saturday arvo...


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Originally Posted by tiroahunta

Owenga..(sp) ..?? Was overlooking that country on Saturday arvo...
Sounds familiar, the road forked further up but we were on the farm next to main bush, when hunting we had a Forest Service caravan which was parked closer to the areas we were hunting, Wesmecotts and a few other farms were up the other road which we also worked at the time.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

I know which property you’re talking about. The Oliver’s own half the north king country but Owawenga Rd is the place you’re referring to. Yeah there’s still pretty good numbers of deer up there, the Pureoras act as a feeder for the local farmland so there’s always deer coming out. Down the Waimahora end it seems that fallow are dominant, but further north it’s all reds. The block I hunt gets constant sustained pressure, so the deer are real cagey, basically nocturnal, not the easiest place to knock over an animal! Goats are thin on the ground as well due to regular culling operations. But yeah its a magic spot with some great views of the central Waikato basin